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Hughes Middle School reports funding shortfall, rising chronic absenteeism and schedule change
Summary
Jada Wilson, principal at Hughes Middle School, said the school faces budget shortfalls after hold‑harmless funding ended, chronic absenteeism rose to about 26 percent, and the school will move to a six‑period day next year; athletic and extracurricular choices were adjusted for sustainability.
Jada Wilson, principal at Hughes Middle School, told the board the school faces a budget gap after federal/state hold‑harmless funds ended and proportionality funding did not flow to the school as it did for some neighboring schools.
Wilson said the school’s chronic absenteeism rate has climbed to about 26 percent, up from about 19 percent at the same point last year, and staff are investigating single‑period absences, doctor‑note policies and use of badge scanners to better understand reporting. “We’re going back and looking at our attendance,” Wilson said, noting the school recently introduced badge scanning and is analyzing where students are missing time.
Because of staffing and funding losses — Wilson said two teacher positions were absorbed after resignations — the school will move from a block schedule to a six‑period day next year, with about 53–54 minute periods. Wilson said sixth‑ and seventh‑grade ELA will remain double blocked where necessary for reading support.
The principal described cuts and cost‑control measures: cross country was retained because it has low incremental costs, while girls volleyball was deferred because the school projected roughly $13,000 in recurring costs for transportation, officials and coaching that it could not sustain. Wilson said the school hopes to recruit local officials and coordinate with the high school to reduce travel costs.
Wilson also discussed academics and student incentives: the school is preparing for SBAC testing in April, running incentive programs and supporting a robotics team that qualified for state competition; she said some grant money (previously used for robotics and similar programs) had ended.
Board members and staff offered follow‑up suggestions including home visits by police/community officers for chronically absent students and local timing solutions for athletics to lower transportation costs.
Why it matters: Wilson said the funding changes and staffing gaps require schedule and program changes that affect students’ day and extracurricular opportunities; the increase in chronic absenteeism also raises concerns about learning loss and school performance metrics.
Next steps: the school will present attendance interventions and scheduling plans to the board and coordinate with local partners to reduce the cost of athletics and support student attendance.
